Summary<\/p>\n
The House voted Wednesday to limit President Donald Trump’s war powers in Iran, with four Republicans joining Democrats in a significant rebuke.
\n The measure still requires Senate approval but would not need the president’s signature.
\n Speaker Mike Johnson warned the measure could weaken negotiations, though some Republicans are feeling pressure from constituents over rising costs.<\/p>\n
\n AI-generated summary was reviewed by a CNN editor.<\/p>\n
\n The House passed a resolution on Wednesday to limit President Donald Trump\u2019s war powers in Iran, a significant rebuke to Trump and his handling of the conflict.\n <\/p>\n
\n Democrats have repeatedly forced votes to limit Trump\u2019s war powers in both the House and the Senate \u2013 a campaign that has gradually picked up more GOP support in recent weeks.\n <\/p>\n
\n The vote was 215 to 208 with Republican Reps. Thomas Massie, Brian Fitzpatrick, Tom Barrett and Warren Davidson crossing party lines to support the resolution.\n <\/p>\n
\n Passage of the war powers resolution is the latest instance of the GOP-controlled Congress pushing back on Trump\u2019s agenda. Senate Republicans in recent days have revolted over a controversial $1.8 billion \u201canti-weaponization\u201d fund that Trump favors, but which they fear would grant payouts to his supporters who attacked police officers during the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. Senate Republicans also formally removed funding<\/a> for Trump\u2019s ballroom security on Wednesday as part of their immigration package after the chamber\u2019s official rule-keeper determined it violated budgetary rules.\n <\/p>\n \n The measure, known as a concurrent resolution, passed by the House Wednesday must be approved by both chambers, but would not go to the president to be signed. According to the Senate\u2019s website, concurrent resolutions do not have the force of law. A House Democratic aide who has been involved in the effort to pass the war powers resolution told CNN they believe the resolution would be binding and it would be a legal matter to work that out.\n <\/p>\n \n The resolution was introduced by New York Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks, the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cI am thrilled that we\u2019ve had the opportunity to have some members from the Republican side stand up. I\u2019m really thrilled and proud of my Democratic colleagues, because every Democrat, every single one voted for this,\u201d Meeks told reporters after the vote.\n <\/p>\n \n He added: \u201cWe\u2019re going to continue to do our constitutional responsibilities, that\u2019s what we\u2019re doing. We\u2019re going to continue and be a check and a balance when the administration doesn\u2019t follow the Constitution.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n This vote was originally set to take place on May 21, but was abruptly canceled by GOP leaders just as Republicans were on the verge of losing the vote due to absences. At the time Meeks told reporters that he thought House Speaker Mike Johnson had been stalling a vote on the measure.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cA lot of my Republican colleagues are feeling the pressure back home when they\u2019re looking at the cost of food, the cost of gas,\u201d he previously told CNN.\u201d(Johnson) is feeling heat. He\u2019s trying to cover for the president. \u2026 But I think the time of him being able to cover for the president is rapidly ending.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n Ahead of the vote on Wednesday, Johnson defended some GOP lawmakers\u2019 opposition to reining in Trump\u2019s war powers in Iran, warning it could have a \u201cvery negative\u201d impact on negotiations.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cI think it is a very dangerous prospect to take away from the administration and the commander-in-chief right now the ability to negotiate. That\u2019s what this does. It, it weakens us, our position, and our leverage in negotiation on the peace in that situation. \u2018Operation Epic Fury\u2019 is concluded,\u201d he told CNN on Wednesday.\n <\/p>\n \n Johnson claimed all of the US objectives in Iran were \u201cwell defined\u201d and \u201cachieved,\u201d despite some lawmakers, including Republicans, expressing interest in receiving further information from the administration.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cThe president is now in the process of, of concluding a peace agreement, and we have to allow him the latitude to do that, and I think a war powers resolution right now is very untimely, and a very, very negative, and dangerous thing for the country,\u201d he said.\n <\/p>\n